I've Been Loving You Too Long

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"I've Been Loving You Too Long"
Single by Otis Redding
from the album Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
B-side"I'm Depending on You"
ReleasedApril 19, 1965 (1965-04-19)
RecordedApril 1965[a]
GenreSoul
Length2:49
LabelVolt (V-126)
Songwriter(s)Otis Redding, Jerry Butler
Producer(s)Steve Cropper
Otis Redding singles chronology
"Mr. Pitiful"
(1965) 		"I've Been Loving You Too Long"
(1965) 		"Respect"
(1965)

"I've Been Loving You Too Long" (originally "I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)") is a soul music ballad written by Otis Redding and Jerry Butler.[2] Considered by music critics and writers to be one of Redding's finest performances and a soul classic, it is a slow, emotional piece with Redding's pleading vocals backed by producer Steve Cropper's arpeggiated guitar parts and a horn section.[3]

Redding recorded the song in 1965 and when released as a single in April 1965, became his second best selling single. The song was subsequently included on his third album,

Cash Box described it as "a tender, slow-moving heartfelt lament about a fella whose love for his gal is growing cold."[6]

Notable

Volt Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[9]

Background and composition

Songs by Redding appeared in the U.S. Billboard pop and R&B charts as early as 1962, but "I've Been Loving You Too Long" became his biggest hit upon its release.[4]

Although the tempo is exactly the same, two versions of the song have been recorded in 1965; one lasts 2'50 and the second one is 3'10 long (in the original LP version), i.e., with an extra verse. Booker T. Jones plays piano on one version while Isaac Hayes is on the other.[10]

Recording and personnel

Ike & Tina Turner version

"I've Been Loving You Too Long"
Blue Thumb
Songwriter(s)Otis Redding, Jerry Butler
Producer(s)Bob Krasnow, Tina Turner
Ike & Tina Turner singles chronology
"I'm Gonna Do All I Can (To Do Right by My Man)"
(1969) 		"I've Been Loving You Too Long"
(1969) 		"I Wish It Would Rain"
(1969)

Outta Season.[11][12] Produced by Tina Turner and Bob Krasnow, the single peaked at number 23 on the Billboard R&B chart and number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100.[13] It was reissued in 1971, reaching number 56 on the Cash Box R&B chart and number 44 on Record World's R&B chart.[14][15]

Live performances

The Turners can be seen performing the song at Madison Square Garden in the Rolling Stones concert film Gimme Shelter (1970).[16] Their version differs from the original because they added an additional section with an explicit interaction. During their live performances they simulated oral sex. Tina caressed the microphone and moaned while Ike made suggestive slurping noises. Prior to Tina, a former member of the Kings of Rhythm named Jimmy Thomas would perform that song. In her autobiography I, Tina, she said:

Then when Jimmy left, I started singing the song, because it was a very good show song, and I started mimicking Jimmy, but putting my own female thing into it. I was really involved with that song in the beginning. Then I became bored with it, but Ike wouldn't let me stop. He started making those noises in the background, and it became really pornographic. Embarrassing. But the people loved it.[17]

Track listing

1969
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I’ve Been Loving You Too Long"Jerry Butler, Otis Redding3:40
2."Grumbling"Ike Turner2:35
1971
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I've Been Loving You Too Long"Jerry Butler, Otis Redding3:40
2."Crazy 'Bout You Baby"Sonny Boy Williamson3:45


Johnny Diesel version

"I've Been Loving You Too Long"
Johnny Diesel
singles chronology
"Masterplan"
(1993) 		"I've Been Loving You Too Long"
(1993) 		"Still Got a Long Way to Go"
(1994)

In 1992 Australian musician,

ARIA Chart on 29 November 1993.[8]

Track listing

  1. "I've Been Loving You Too Long"
  2. "Come to Me" (UK Remix)

Other versions

Chart performance

Otis Redding
Chart (1965) Peak

Position

US Billboard Hot 100[4] 21
US Billboard R&B[4] 2
Ike & Tina Turner
Chart Year Peak

Position

US Billboard Hot 100[13] 1969 68
US Billboard R&B[20] 23
US Cash Box Top 100[21] 91
US Record World Top 100[22] 94
US Bubbling Under Hot 100[23] 1971 120
US Cash Box R&B[14] 56
US Record World R&B[15] 44
Johnny Diesel
Chart (1993) Peak

Position

Australia (ARIA)[8] 41

Notes

  1. ^ The original version was recorded in mono in April 1965. A stereo version for inclusion on Otis Blue was recorded July 9–10.[1]

References

  1. Rhino, ATCO
    . 081227951856. For the Otis Blue sessions, Redding decided to recut 'I've Been Loving You Too Long' in stereo. The song had undergone substantial change since it was originally recorded in April.
  2. ^ a b Eder, Bruce. "Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  3. ^ Layne, Joslyn. "Otis Redding: I've Been Loving You Too Long – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d
    ISBN 0-89820-068-7
    .
  5. ^ "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. May 8, 1965. p. 37. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
  6. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 8, 1965. p. 12. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  7. ^ a b c O'Dell, Cory. "2003 | National Recording Preservation Board". Library of Congress.
  8. ^ a b c "JOHNNY DIESEL I've Been Loving You Too Long (SONG)". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  9. ^ "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com.
  10. ISBN 9780823076772
    .
  11. ^ "Cash Box Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box: 30. March 29, 1969.
  12. ^ Ron Wynn. "Outta Season - Ike & Tina Turner | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  13. ^ a b "I've Been Loving You Too Long (song by Ike & Tina Turner)". Music VF, US & UK hits charts. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  14. ^ a b "Cash Box R&B Top 60" (PDF). Cash Box: 15. August 14, 1971.
  15. ^ a b "The R&B Singles Chart" (PDF). Record World: 10. September 4, 1971.
  16. ^ "Spotlight Singles: Special Merit Spotlight" (PDF). Billboard. July 10, 1971. p. 51.
  17. ISBN 9780670808731
    .
  18. ^ "ARIA New Releases 29 November 1993". Ariacharts.com.au. 29 November 1993. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  19. ^ Richie Unterberger (1966-11-04). "Got Live If You Want It! - The Rolling Stones | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  20. ^ "Best Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles" (PDF). Billboard. June 14, 1969. p. 42.
  21. ^ "Cash Box Top 100" (PDF). Cash Box: 4. May 10, 1969.
  22. ^ "100 Top Pops" (PDF). Record World: 25. June 7, 1969.
  23. ^ "Bubbling Under The Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard. July 31, 1971. p. 51.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I%27ve_Been_Loving_You_Too_Long&oldid=1212978665"